Thank you for contacting me about the welfare of gamebirds bred for shooting.
I share your high regard for animal welfare. In England, the Animal Welfare Act 2006 already makes it an offence to cause any unnecessary suffering to any animal, including gamebirds. This legislation is backed up by the statutory Code of Practice for the Welfare of Gamebirds Reared for Sporting Purposes.
However, as you outlined, this is a devolved matter for the Welsh Government. As I understand it, the Welsh Labour-led Government undertook a review of the code of practice for rearing game birds last year and engaged with key stakeholders in the process. Unfortunately, its publication has been delayed due to the COVID-19 pandemic.
My colleagues and I in the Welsh Conservatives take issues of animal welfare extremely seriously and will continue to work hard to ensure that future Welsh Government policy maintains high animal welfare standards. As a result, my colleague, the Shadow Minister for Climate Change, Energy and Rural Affairs, Janet Finch-Saunders MS, will ask the Minister for Environment for an update on the code of practice. I will, of course, forward you a copy of the Minister’s response once I receive it.
Thank you again for taking the time to contact me.
Yours sincerely